Fittings for sewing machines



Aug. 25, 1959 o. B. REID FITTINGS FOR SEWING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 5, 1955 Fig.l

INVENTOR. Orland B. Reid BY TTORNE Y WITNESS Ma d 1959 o. B. REID 2,900,936

FITTINGS FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Dec. 5, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A c B Fig.6

IN V EN TOR.

Orland 8. Reid WITNESS BY A/MWQ Z, Q

y TTORNE Y 9 o. B. REID 2,900,936

FITTINGS FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Dec. 5, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. r/and 5. Reid WITNESS y 0 ATTORNEY United States Patent M FIITINGS FOR SEWING MACHINES Orland B. Reid, Kenilworth, N.J., assignor to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationDecemher 5, 1955, Serial No. 550,953

3 Claims. (Cl. 112-447) The present invention relates to fittings for sewing machines and more particularly to fittings for performing the final stitching operation in the formation of a socalled' single-needle seam used in the manufacture of mens shirts and the like. i

In a single-needle seam of the type in question there are two lines of stitching made in successive sewing operations on machines having a single needle. In the first stitching operation, the two superimposed pieces of work are stitched together by a seam spaced from the aligned edges. The work pieces are then separated into a coplanar condition and the edge portions of the work pieces beyond the first line of stitching are folded toward one of the work pieces and the free edgesthereof are infolded. In the second or final stitching operation, the infolded. edge-portions are stitched to one of the work pieces by a line of stitching parallel to the first line of stitching and passing through the infolded edge portions and the work piece. Heretofore, this second stitching operation has been performed with the edge portions of the work pieces extending upwardly, and it was folded by the operator as the work was fed to the sewing machine. Being manual, this operation was slow and expensive and the quality of the resultant Work depended upon the skill of the operator and, evenwith a highly skilled operator, was not uniform.

The object of the present invention is to provide a set of fittings for use in performing the final stitching operation in the formation of a single-needle seam, thus not only speeding up this sewing operation, but also improving the quality of the resultantseam and reducing the skillrequired of the operator.

In accordance with this invention the final stitching operation in a single-needle seam is performed in a novel manner by a set of fittings that guide the work to the stitching mechanism of the sewing machine.

Having in mind the above and other objects that will be evident from an understanding of this disclosure, the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts as illustrated in the presently preferred embodiment of the invention which is hereinafter set forth in such detail as to enable those skilled in the art readily to understand the function, operation, construction and advantages of it when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a sewing machine on which the fittings in accordance with this invention have been mounted.

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the fittings illustrated in Fig. l and the adjacent portions of the sewing machine.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2. p

Figs. 4 and S are sectional views taken substantially on the lines 4-4 and 5--5, respectively, of Fig. 3.

Figs. 6 and 7 are detail sectional views of the opening and folding of the work performed by the present 2,900,936 Patented Aug. 25, 1959 2. fittings, illustrating the seam before and after the final stitching operation.

The seam, in the production of which the present fittings are designed to be used, is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. The work consists of two plies of material or work pieces A and B which are initially superimposed with the marginal edges aligned. The first line of stitching C is then sewed along a line parallel to and spaced from the aligned edges. The work pieces A and B are thereafter opened or separated against the line of stitch ing C into a coplanar position, as illustrated in Fig. 6, with the marginal edge portions D and E of the work pieces arranged normal to the plane of the work pieces. The free edges of the edge portions D and E are then infolded against the face of the work piece B, as illustrated in Fig. 7, and secured to the work piece B by a second line of stitching F that passes through the work piece and the infolded edge portions D and E. The finished side of the work is the top as seen in Fig. 7.

The fittings constructed in accordance with the present invention are illustrated inthe drawings as used on a post-type sewing machine having a pedestal 1 that supports a standard 2, the standard 2 in turn supports the bracket arm (notshown) which carries the head 3. A needle bar 4 carrying a needle 5 is mounted in the head for endwise reciprocation. A presser bar 6 carrying a presser foot 7 is mounted in a bushing 6a in the head 3 for endwise reciprocation and in the usual manner is spring biased downwardly. A work supporting post 8 rises from the bed (not shown) of the machine parallel to the standard 2. At its upper or free end, the post 8 has a throat plate 9 and a slide plate 10. The slide plate .10 is adapted to be moved to the right in Fig. 3 to expose the hook mechanism (not shown) for the purpose of replenishing the bobbin. The throat plate 9 is provided with a needle aperture 11 through which the needle 5 passes to cooperate with the hook mechanism in the formation of stitches. The throat plate 9 also is provided with feed-dog slots 12 through which the feeddogs 13 operate to advance the work past the stitching mechanism. A rectangular groove 14 (Figs. 4 and 5) is formedcentrally in the upper face of the throat plate 9 from-the forward edge rearwardly past the needle aperture 11 and to the feed-dog slot 12 that is arranged directly behind the aperture 11. The groove 14 has a decreasing depth as it progresses rearwardly from the forward edge, thus defining a smooth intake for the groove.

The presser foot 7 has a sole plate 15 that in the usual fashion is designed to hold the work down against the throat plate 9 and feed-dogs 13. The under side of the sole plate 15 has a groove 16 therein that is arranged opposite to the groove .14 in the throat plate, as seen in Figs. 2 and 5. The groove 16 at its forward edge flares outwardly toward the right and upwardly to define a receiving throat "17 and an edge guide 18.

A bracket 19 is secured to the post 8 for vertical adjustment by screws 20 passing through slots 21 in the vertical leg of the bracket. A work-supporting member comprising an apron 22 is secured to the horizontal leg of the bracket 19 by screws 23- The upper surface of the apron 22 is substantially in the plane of the throat plate 9, and it is curved downwardly toward its free front edge. Formed in the apron 22 is a slot 24 that leads toward the grooves 14 and 16 and has an enlarged rear of the groove and the bottom of the groove is angled as seen in Fig. 5.

A plate 28 is secured to the apron 22 by screws 29 that pass through slots 30 in the plate 28 to provide for lateral adjustment of the same. The plate 28 has a guide edge 31 that is arranged parallel to the edges of the grooves 14, 16 and 27 and the slot 24, and it is disposed substantially in the center of'the space defined by the grooves 14 and 16. The plate 28 has a finger 32, Fig. 3, that serves to extend the guide edge 31, the finger 32 extending under the forward edge of the presser foot sole plate 15 into the space defined by the grooves 14 and 16, the throat 17 providing clearance for the finger 32.

An auxiliary presser mechanism is provided to hold the work as it enters the slot 24. This mechanism consists of apresser foot 33, the sole plate of which conforms to the curvature of the apron 22. The presser foot 33 is carried by a presser lever 34 having a laterally bent arm 35 that is journaled on a horizontal axis in a block 36 secured on the presser bar 6. Lateral sliding motion of the arm 35 inthe block 36 is prevented by a collar 37 which is on the end of a sleeve 38 journaled in the block 36 for rotation but held against axial sliding by a set screw 39. Secured by a screw 40 upon the end of the arm 35 is a crank 41 which at its end carries a stud screw 42 to which is secured one end of a coil tension spring 43. The other end of the spring 43 is connected to a bar 44 adjustably secured to a bracket 47 by a screw 45 passing through a slot 46 in the bar. The bracket 47 encircles the stationary bushing 6a for the presser bar and is clamped thereto by a screw 48. Secured to the bracket 47 by screws 49 is a guard plate 50 which is arranged on two sides of the operating mechanism for the auxiliary presser mechanism.

In operation, when the presser bar 6 is down and the presser foot 7 is in operative relation with the throat plate 9 and feed-dogs 13, the auxiliary presser foot 33 is biased into engagement with the apron 22 by the spring 43 which is exerting a force through the crank 41 tending to rotate the arm 35 of the presser lever 34. When the presser foot 7 is raised in the usual manner by the presser lifter mechanism (not shown), the block 36 is carried upwardly by the presser bar 6. The spring 43 is first collapsed and thereafter serves as a connecting link between the bar 44 and the end of the crank 41 so that further raising of the presser bar 6 rotates the crank 41 and thereby rotates the presser lever 34 to raise the auxiliary presser foot 33, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

In the use of the present fittings, the work is arranged as illustrated in Fig. 6 and inserted into the machine with the edge portions D and E extending downwardly through the slot 24 and the work pieces A and B lying flat on the apron 22, the eye 25 facilitating insertion of the edge portions D and E into the slot 24. As the work is advanced the edge portions D and E first enter the throat of the groove 27 in the boss 26 which starts to fold them upwardly toward the work piece B. At the same time, the free edges of the edge portions D and E are rolled inwardly or infolded by the groove 27 to conceal the raw edges.

The folded edge portions D and E are below the plate 28 with the edge of the plate disposed between them and the work piece B. Thus, the guide edge of the plate 28 is adapted to be engaged against the fold line along the line of stitching C to guide the work.

When leaving the groove 27, the edge portions D and E are folded into substantially the position illustrated in Fig. 7. Upon leaving the groove 27, the folded edge portions D and E enter the groove 14 in the throat plate 9. The folded edge portions D and E are compressed against the under side of the portion of the plate 28 over the groove 14 by the decreasing depth of the groove 14 and finally enter into the space between the groove 14 in the throat plate and the'groove 16 in the sole plate 15 of the presser foot 7 and is fed past the stitching 4 mechanism. By virtue of the finger 32, the portion of the plate 28 over the groove 14 controls the work until it passes under the presser foot 7.

A further advantage derived by the use of the present fittings is that, since the work is stitched with the folded ends D and E on the underside, the feed-dogs 13 act on the under side rather than the finished side of the work. In the manual methods heretofore used, the folded ends must be up so that the feed-dogs of the machine operate on the finished side of the work and leave unsightly marks that will appear in the completed garment. In addition, when the work is sewed in accordance with present methods, the bobbin thread rather than the needle thread appears on the finished side of the work, whereas in accordance with the method of the present invention, the needle thread appears on the finished side of the work.

The presently disclosed fittings may be conveniently used with existing post-type sewing machines since it is necessary only to provide tapped openings for receiving the screws 20 whichsecure the supporting bracket 19 to the post 8, and with slight modifications, may be adapted to be conveniently used with otherrtypes of machines.

Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to a preferred embodiment of my invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention, All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is:

1. In a sewing machine having a work support including a throat plate and an apron having a work supporting surface in the plane of said throat plate, stitching mechanism defining a point of stitch formation on said throat plate, feeding mechanism having a Work engaging element operating through said throat plate to advance work past said stitching mechanism, presser mechanism including a presser foot engaging said throat plate and the work engaging element of said feeding mechanism, said apron having a slot directed toward said point of stitch formation and open at the end adjacent the point of stitch formation, said slot being adapted to receive a side portion of a work piece disposed upon said apron, folding guide means comprising an element arranged astride of the slot on the side of said apron opposite to said work supporting surface andhaving a work folding groove for folding the side portion of a work piece disposed in said slot into a position parallel to said work support and for infolding the free edge of the side portion, a plate secured to the work supporting surface of said apron and having a guide edge overhanging said slot, and means for guiding the work piece from said groove to the point of stitch formation.

2. In a sewing machine having a work support including a throat plate and an apron having a work supporting surface in the plane of said throat plate, stitching mechanism defining a point of stitch formation on said throat plate, presser mechanism in engagement with said throat plate about said point of stitch formation, said apron having a slot directed toward said point of stitch formation and open at the end adjacent said point of stitch formation, said slot being designed to receive a side portion of a work piece disposed upon said apron,

folding guide means comprising an element arranged astride of the slot on the side of said apron opposite to said work supporting surface and having a work folding groove for folding the side portion of a work piecedisposed in said slot into a position parallel to said work support and for infolding the free edge of the side portion, means for guiding the work piece from said folding guide means to the point of stitch formation, and an auxiliary presser mechanism having a spring-biased presser foot arranged to engage resiliently the Work supporting surface of said apron over said slot for holding the work on said apron with the side portion in said slot.

3. In a sewing machine having a frame including a head and a bed with a work supporting surface, cooperating stitching instrumentalities carried by said head and bed and defining a point of stitch formation on said work supporting surface, presser mechanism including a bushing mounted in said head and a presser bar mounted in said bushing and carrying a presser foot engaging said work support about the point of stitch formation, said work supporting surface having a slot directed toward said point of stitch formation and open at the end adjacent said point of stitch formation, said slot being designed to receive a side portion of a work piece disposed upon said work supporting surface, folding guide means comprising an element arranged astride of the slot on the side of said apron opposite to said work supporting surface and having a work folding groove for folding the side portion of a work piece disposed in said slot into a position parallel to said work supporting surface and for infolding the free edge of the side portion, means for guiding the work piece from said folding guide means to the point of stitch formation, and an auxiliary presser mechanism comprising a block secured to said presserbar, a presser lever carried by said block for rotation relative thereto, an auxiliary presser foot carried by said lever and designed to engage said work supporting surface over said. slot for holding the work on said work supporting surface with the side portion in said slot, a bracket carried by said bushing and means including a spring for operatively connecting said presser lever to said bracket for biasing said lever with the auxiliary presser foot urged toward said work supporting surface and for lifting said auxiliary presser foot from the work supporting surface when said presser foot is lifted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS I 520,292 Betz May 22, 1894 793,217 Nusbaum June 27, 1905 1,988,401 Thompson Q. Jan. 15, 1935 2,182,911 Bowman Dec. 12, 1939 2,348,690 Ackerman May 9, 1944 2,411,102 Morabito Nov. 12, 1946 

